Do You Need To Be The Alpha, Or Pack Leader?
Every heard you need to be the pack leader, or the alpha, to improve or change a dogs behavior? These ideas are rooted in dominancy theory: the idea that dogs form ‘packs’ with strict social higherachies.
Such ideas have long plagued the dog training industry with recommendations to intimidate, ‘correct’ and punish dogs to show status. We now know these methods are based on outdated science, and likely to do more harm than good.
Find out why.
What Is Dominance Theory?
To understand dominance theory, we must go back to 1947, when the Animal Behaviorist, Dr Rudolph Schenkel, wrote a paper titled “Expressions Studies on Wolves”. This study, and similar ones of the time, would become the backbone of another Animal Behaviorist, Dr David Mech’s, own research and book “The Wolf: Ecology and Behavior of an Endangered Species,” published in 1970.
This study observed social behaviors in a set of unrelated wolves in captivity. In these artificially set up “packs” they witnessed competition for space and resources, with the pack eventually forming a type of dominance hierarchy. They theorized that wolves were in constant competition for a higher ranking social position, doing so through often violent interactions. Within this paradigm it seemed appropriate to refer to the top-ranking individuals as “alphas”, and claim that they fought to gain and maintain their position.
Thus, Dr Rudolph Schenkel, published his famous paper describing how wolves interact with each other in such a group, asserting then that there is a top-ranking male and a top-ranking female in packs and referring to them as the “alphas”.
The main problem, which Dr Mech himself has talked about numerous times, is that these conclusions were based upon observed behaviors of unrelated, captive wolves. And what we now know (and have known for about 40 years), is that this isn’t “normal” wolf behavior!
“Wolf packs in their natural habitat actually exist as a family, consisting of a mated pair and their offspring from the past one to three years”
Wolf packs in their natural habitat actually exist as a family, consisting of a mated pair and their offspring from the past one to three years. As the offspring grow up, they leave the pack and go on to form their own packs. Unfortunately keeping wolves in captivity forces them to share smaller spaces together over long periods of time, which causes tension between mature, adult wolves that wouldn’t otherwise happen in a natural setting.
Dominance-Based Training Methods
So that brings us to “dominance training”, where a bunch of folks took this (somewhat misguided) research and said, “you know what, dog’s are related to wolves, right? So that must mean we need to dominate our dogs (or be the “alpha”) in order to teach them and keep them in line”. This is usually attained through punishment, intimidation and/or the use of aversive equipment.
Common Recommendations
Prong collars that ‘mimic a mothers bite to a puppies neck’
Alpha rolling (holding the dog to the floor until it submits)
Intimidating the dog (e.g. harsh tones, standing over them)
Physically manipulating the dog into compliance (either through applying pressure using tools like choke chains, ecollars, or brute strength)
Restricting privileges (e.g. not allowing dogs to snuggle on furniture with you)
Arbitrary rules like ‘the dog needs to walk through the door after you’, or ‘the dog must walk two feet behind you and never in front’
There are more… sigh
Now we as a society have a long history of mistreating animals (and our fellow humans), but this type of training philosophy soared into the mainstream in the 70’s and 80’s popularized by pop culture figures like the Monks of New Skete, and the infamous Caesar Millan.
So thank you boys, now we have your big old mess to clean up.
As usual.
A Better, Science Based, Training Method
Thankfully over the last 2 decades or so there has been a shift in dog training philosophies to a gentler, more reward based ethos.
There are many studies as to the effectiveness of positive reinforcement based training techniques on learning and behavior as well as general wellbeing for the animal.
These gentler methods often look less flashy and less impressive than the high drama of Caesars shows. That is because they do not reply on bullying tactics to suppress behavior and instead focus on step by step training plans that gradually teach skills and coping mechanisms over months and years.
However in an, as yet, unregulated industry, misinformation is a large problem: as perpetuated by flashy, machismo trainers with their promises of quick fixes.
Gentler methods work, but take compassion, consistency and skill - just like parenting! We ask dog guardians to ask themselves which method of training and communication their dog would prefer - if they had the choice, and arm themselves with a qualified, experienced trainer to guide them.
In Summary: Dominance Theory Sucks Because…
The entire theory and language was based on weak science! Wolves don’t even form strict higherachies!!! They are cooperative and deferential by nature, not violent and domineering.
Your dog is not a wolf. This one should be obvious, but many folks think that dog and wolf psychology is identical. Well - thankfully - it isn’t, so even if there was science backing up dominance theories in wolves, it probably wouldn’t apply to your pet dog.
it oversimplifies and mislabels behaviors we dislike as an attempt at “dominance” and does your dog a disservice, overlooking complex emotions or underlying issues that should be addressed
You and your dog are not in competition. If anything you are more akin to being their parent, so parent GENTLY.
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